Lifting and carrying aid

ABSTRACT

A lifting device includes an arcuate base member adapted to attach to a body encircling belt and at least one hinged member attached to the arcuate base member to support an object being maneuvered by a wearer of the lifting device. The arcuate base member is attached to the body encircling belt using adjustable lateral straps.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENTS REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to lifting aids and more particularly to a lifting support belt adapted to support an object being positioned or carried by a person wearing the lifting support belt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When an object is lifted by a person in a standing position, the weight of the object is transferred up the arms, through the shoulders and related musculo-skeletal structures, down the spinal column to the pelvis and the legs. Injury can occur from repetitive strain to these structures or uneven loading of these structures. By using proper lifting techniques of legs apart, knees bent and a straight back position, the center of gravity of the object can be maintained closer to the natural center of gravity of the human body and the possibility of overuse can be minimized. Also, by positioning the upper arms and the elbows closer to body during such lifting can provide more stability and transfer some downward forces though the larger muscles of the abdomen, pelvis, hips and legs. The constant muscular tension required for this action can become uncomfortable after repeated lifting maneuvers especially during carrying and lifting actions. To help reduce the potential problem of back pain due the latter, it is now common to require lifting and carrying workers as part of their job duties to wear a lifting belt or back brace. The lifting belt or back brace is worn to inhibit the awkward positions and attendant back injuries that result from improper lifting to provide additional support to the spinal column and back muscles. Unfortunately, when carrying large or awkward objects, the amount of muscular strain required of the both the larger trunk muscles and the smaller extremity muscles can be excessive. Furthermore, when lifiting or carrying an object the arms can tire and a load can shift downward and forward resulting in improper loading and an increase in back tension and injury risk.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a lifting device includes an arcuate base member adapted to attach to a body encircling belt and at least one hinged member attached to the arcuate base member to support an object being maneuvered by a wearer of the lifting device. The arcuate base member is attached to the body encircling belt using adjustable lateral straps. With such an arrangement, a lifting device is provided to assist individuals in carrying objects including packaged goods which will decrease the incidence of and prevent against lower back injuries in persons involved in repetitive lifting and carrying. Another feature of the invention is to create a more ergonomically correct way to lift and carry objects that is less physically demanding.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a lifting device includes a body encircling belt; an arcuate base member adapted to attach to the body encircling belt; and at least one hinged member or fixed member attached to the arcuate base member to support an object being positioned by a wearer of the lifting device. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one hinged member includes two hinged members equally spaced from a center line of the arcuate base member. Additionally, the arcuate base member is shaped to accommodate the two hinged members when the two hinged members are in the stored position. With such an arrangement, a lifting device is provided that ensures maintaining a balance of load close to normal center of gravity and to minimize the amount of muscle work that needs to be performed in order to maintain stasis. The present invention overcomes the difficulty of carrying difficult loads, especially large, heterogeneous or non-regularly shaped loads, where the arms are used for balance in more than one plane such as anterior-posterior as well as lateral balance. With the center of the load anchored at the appropriate position, the arms can be used more efficiently for lateral balance only. The present invention will benefit the user by assuring proper positioning of load as well as anterior-posterior balancing and decrease arm loading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of this invention, as well as the invention itself, may be more fully understood from the following description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sketch of a prototype lifting aid according to the invention;

FIG. 1A is a more detailed sketch of a lifting aid according to the invention;

FIG. 1B is an alternative embodiment of a lifting aid according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sketch of a lifting device to include the lifting aid with a lifting belt accordingly to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sketch of the lifting device worn by a person; and

FIG. 4 is a sketch of a person wearing the lifting device and carrying an object.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before providing a detailed description of the invention, it may be helpful to review the state of the art of belt-like devices. A great many types and kinds of belt-like devices exist for encircling and providing support to and for particular areas of the human body. A great majority of such belts are for corrective rather than preventive purposes. Some such belts are designed to urge one or more body parts back into their normal position. Others are constructed to restrict movement of a body part to prevent further injury thereto, or pain resulting from an unwanted movement of a previously injured body member. Still other belts function to compress or rearrange sagging body members to help slim and beautify the figure. More recently, belt-like devices are constructed or intended to prevent body strain, stress, or injury during work. The latter involves a body encircling belt for use by persons who are physically capable of performing lifting and other strenuous material handling tasks. Typically, the body encircling belt is of material which is washable, and which will breathe while worn to facilitate its use throughout an entire working day; while at the same time providing body members support elements at selected locations on the belt, to generate a bending stress to which the user is responsive and which induces the user to bend at a slower rate thus reducing the possibility of back injury, to facilitate transmitting stress generated while performing tasks from upper lumbar regions to the pelvis, and to provide torsional rigidity for the users torso and prevent excessive twisting thereof. Applicant has discovered by modifying a body encircling belt to include applicants invention, a suspended shelf is provided for assistance with personal lifting, carrying and transporting of packages and objects.

It should be appreciated the accepted properties of an abdominal binding, lumbar supporting belt are well-known. In the present invention, a fork-assisted belt assists in proper lifting technique and balance of load. A proper lifting technique involves lifting with the legs and transferring stress to the large muscles of the legs and trunk. Proper lifting involves keeping posture in a normal to extended lumbar lordosis so as to keep balance and center of gravity over feet and close to the normal body center of gravity. The normal center of gravity of the average human is just anterior to the second sacral vertebrae. Proper lifting involves balancing loads as close as possible to the position anterior to the second sacral vertebrae. Maintaining balance of load close to normal center of gravity minimizes the amount of muscle work that needs to be performed in order to maintain stasis. When carrying difficult loads, especially large, heterogeneous or non-regularly shaped loads, the arms are used for balance in more than one plane. The arms are used for anterior-posterior as well as lateral balance. If the center of the load is anchored at the appropriate position then the arms can be used more efficiently for lateral balance only. Use of a fork assisted belt as contemplated by the present invention will benefit the user by assuring proper positioning of load as well as anterior-posterior balancing and will decrease the work required of the arms.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a fork assisted lumbar support belt 100 is shown to include a standard rigid weight lifting belt 20 (hereinafter also referred to as a body encircling belt) with optional suspenders 22 and lifting aid 10. The lifting aid 10 includes an anterior hard plate 12, here shown as an arcuate base member. The hard plate 12 includes two retractable hinge members 14 that can be deployed to a ninety degree position or folded back on themselves to be stored. It should be appreciated optionally the retractable hinge member 14 could be a fixed support member. When in the upright or stored position, the retractable hinge member 14 may be held in position with clips or magnets which allow easy deployment. It should be noted that the hinge members 14 provide two evenly spaced retractable platforms that fold forward when needed and form forks that can be used to provide support to an object being carried by a wearer of support belt 100. The anterior hard plate 12 is attached to the underlying lifting belt 20 with two adjustable lateral straps 24 which can be released by a buckle 26. The anterior hard plate 12 will transfer weight of an object being carried to the anterior abdominal wall and pubic symphysis and by tension transferred to the lower lumbar and sacral regions. Small cut-outs (or depressions) are provided inferiorly on the lateral aspects to shield the anterior superior iliac crests and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves. The anterior hard plate 12 will also include beveling to accommodate the convex nature of the anterior abdominal wall. The hinge members 14 may be aluminum or another metal or any suitable lightweight rigid material (such as a hard durable polymer) and may measure 1.5-2.0 inches in width and 3-4 inches in length from top to hinge. The hinge member 14 will have a block so as to not exceed a 90 degree angle when open. The latter can be accomplished by augmenting an existing hinge or manufacturing stops on the hinge member 14 during manufacturing. It should be appreciated that the hinge member 14 when deployed will carry the weight of a load and transfer the load to the torso.

The anterior hard plate 12 is manufactured of aluminum or another metal or any suitable lightweight rigid material and covered or coated with a non-skid and insulating material of either leather or rubber so as to keep loads from shifting and minimize damage to load. The hinge member 14 (or forks) will also be covered with a similar non-skid surface either by grooves in the material or by a coating of material for the same reasons. When used with suspenders 22, the suspenders 22 will be manufactured of non-stretch material and will have padding over the shoulders. The anterior hard plate 12 may also be attached to the body encircling belt 20 using straps 24 that use a hook and loop fastener (such as Velcro) instead of the buckle 26 such that the lifting aid 10 can be easily removed from the body encircling belt 20 for periods of extended sitting.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, the lifting aid 10 is shown to include the anterior hard plate 12 with two retractable hinge members 14 that can be deployed to a ninety degree position or folded back on themselves to be stored. The hard plate 12 is shaped with depressions 17 to accommodate the hinged members 14 when the hinged members 14 are in a stored position. The latter prevents the hinged members 14 from being in the way of the wearer when the wearer is not transporting objects. Magnets 8 are disposed in each of the depressions 17 of the hard plate 12 as well as the hinged members 14 as shown to hold the hinged member 14 in the stored position until needed. Alternatively, clips or other fasteners can be used to hold the hinged members in a stored position. Apertures 6 are provided in the hard plate 12 to accommodate the straps 24 (FIG. 2) when connecting the lifting aid 10 to the body encircling belt 20 (FIG. 2). Disposed on the hard plate 12 is a material 18 having a non-skid property disposed over the arcuate base member or hard plate 12. Additionally a material 16 having a non-skid property is disposed over the hinged members 14. It should be appreciated that the hard plate 12 and the hinged members 14 can be fabricated from like materials, such as a hard durable polymer or any similar material. Also the material 18 and the material 16 can be the same material such as rubber, leather or any insulating, non-skid material.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, an alternative embodiment of the lifting aid 110 is shown to include the anterior hard plate 12 with, in this embodiment, a single retractable hinge shelf 114 that can be deployed to a ninety degree position or folded back on itself to be stored. The hard plate 12 is covered with a non-skid material 18 and the hinged shelf 114 is covered with a non-skid material 116. It should be appreciated that other shapes and forms for the hinged member may utilized depending on the size and shape of the objects that may need to be transported by the wearer.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a person wearing the fork assisted lumbar support belt 100 is shown transporting an object 200. In this situation, the weight of the object 200 is not excessive, but the center of balance of the object 200 would normally make carrying the object 200 difficult. Here, the fork-assisted belt 100 assists in a proper lifting technique and balance of load.

Having described the invention, it should now be appreciated that a lifting aid according to the present invention includes an arcuate base member adapted to attach to a body encircling belt and at least one hinged member attached to the arcuate base member to support an object being maneuvered by a wearer of the lifting device. In one embodiment, the arcuate base member is attached to the body encircling belt using adjustable lateral straps. Alternatively, the arcuate base member may be permanently attached to the body encircling belt during the manufacturing process. A material having a non-skid property is disposed over the arcuate base member and a material having a non-skid property is disposed over the at least one hinged member. The latter materials typically are an insulating material. In a preferred embodiment the at least one hinged member comprises two hinged members equally spaced from a center line of the arcuate base member and the arcuate base member is shaped to accommodate the two hinged members when the two hinged members are in the stored position. In one embodiment, the arcuate base member comprises a durable polymer material having a magnet disposed therein aligned to mate with a magnet disposed in the at least one hinged member when in the stored position. Furthermore, the arcuate base member comprises depressions on an anterior surface of the arcuate base member disposed to reduce pressure on lateral femoral cutaneous nerves of the wearer. Also, the arcuate base member comprises a bevel shape to accommodate a convex shape of the anterior abdominal wall.

Having described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will now become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments incorporating their concepts may be used. It is felt therefore that these embodiments should not be limited to disclosed embodiments but rather should be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. A lifting device comprising: an arcuate base member adapted to attach to a body encircling belt; and at least one support member attached to the arcuate base member to support an object being maneuvered by a wearer of the lifting device.
 2. The lifting device as recited in claim 1 wherein the support member comprises a hinged member.
 3. The lifting device as recited in claim 1 wherein the arcuate base member is attached to the body encircling belt using adjustable lateral straps.
 4. The lifting device as recited in claim 1 wherein the arcuate base member is permanently attached to the body encircling belt during the manufacturing process.
 5. The lifting device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a material having a non-skid property disposed over the arcuate base member.
 6. The lifting device as recited in claim 2 further comprising a material having a non-skid property disposed over the at least one hinged member.
 7. The lifting device as recited in claim 2 further comprising an insulating material disposed over the at least one hinged member.
 8. The lifting device as recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one hinged member comprises two hinged members equally spaced from a center line of the arcuate base member.
 9. The lifting device as recited in claim 2 wherein the arcuate base member is shaped to accommodate the at least one hinged member when the at least one hinged member is in the stored position.
 10. The lifting device as recited in claim 2 wherein the arcuate base member comprises a durable polymer material having a magnet disposed therein aligned to mate with the at least one hinged member when in the stored position.
 11. The lifting device as recited in claim 1 wherein the arcuate base member comprises depressions on an anterior surface of the arcuate base member disposed to reduce pressure on lateral femoral cutaneous nerves of the wearer.
 12. The lifting device as recited in claim 1 wherein the arcuate base member comprises a bevel shape to accommodate a convex shape of the anterior abdominal wall.
 13. A lifting device comprising: (a) a body encircling belt; (b) an arcuate base member adapted to attach to the body encircling belt; and (c) at least one hinged member attached to the arcuate base member to support an object being positioned by a wearer of the lifting device.
 14. The lifting device as recited in claim 13 comprising suspenders fabricated from non-stretch material attached to the body encircling belt.
 15. The lifting device as recited in claim 13 wherein the at least one hinged member comprises two hinged members equally spaced from a center line of the arcuate base member.
 16. The lifting device as recited in claim 12 wherein the arcuate base member is shaped to accommodate the at least one hinged member when the at least one hinged member is in the stored position.
 17. The lifting device as recited in claim 13 wherein the at least one hinged member is provided as a suspended shelf.
 18. The lifting device as recited in claim 13 wherein the arcuate base member and at least one hinged member is fabricated with a hard durable polymer.
 19. The lifting device as recited in claim 13 wherein the arcuate base member is shaped to accommodate the at least one hinged member when the at least one hinged member is in the stored position. 